More road $ is needed

With the rising costs of maintenance and decreased local funding, continued state support may be necessary to ensure the quality of Jay County’s roads.
During Monday’s meeting with Jay County Commissioners, highway superintendent Ken Wellman laid out his plans for chip and sealing 110 miles of county roads. With costs totaling $951,786.44 for the maintenance, he intends to complete the task with funds diverted from various areas in the county’s budget, but he said in the future state funding might be necessary to keep roads in good working order.
In order to maintain the county’s roads, Wellman said a little more than 100 miles of chip and sealing must be performed every year with the 550 miles of paved county roads being completely redone every five years. This ensures they don’t fall into disrepair. For this year, the cost of maintenance per mile of 18-foot wide roadway includes $7,334.98 in emulsion and $1,317 in stone.
Wellman’s current budget includes $368,000 for the work. He intends to gather $200,000 from the county infrastructure fund as well, which in the past had been used for spot paving and short-term maintenance. But in more recent years that money has been allocated for use in chip and sealing.
“I would much rather spend the money chip and sealing,” said county engineer Dan Watson. “Chip and seal is the best maintenance we have right now.”

For the remaining $320,146.20, Wellman said he will be requesting $350,000 from the county’s highway general funds. The extra $29,853.80 originates from funds generated by Portland, Eaton, Redkey and Montpelier purchasing emulsion from the department. That money will be returned to highway funds.
But for the past two years the county had access to $1 million — $500,000 per year — in state funding for use in the road maintenance. This meant transfers from the highway general funds weren’t necessary. Wellman said he has not yet received word on if the same funding will be made available to the county this year.
“Unless legislature gives us more money, we’ll be doing the same things next year,” said Wellman.
County commissioner Faron Parr said these funds allowed Wellman to hit his 100-mile mark for the past couple years, but prior to that he had only been able to hit about half of the quota.
Without state assistance, Watson predicts the county may be able to hit the 100-mile goal for the next two or three years by drawing upon reserve funding. But after that it may not be an option.
“That’s the whole problem, it was a two-year deal,” said Watson. “They had kind of an influx of money for the last two years. That’s something that we need sustained. It was just kind of a band aid and everybody’s kind of scraping.”
Wellman cited rising emulsion costs as a primary reason for the disparity between what the county can afford and what is necessary for roadway upkeep, along with Watson blaming stagnant revenue from gas taxes because of more fuel efficient vehicles.
In a worst-case scenario, some paved roads would have to revert to gravel roads after about three years if a funding solution isn’t found, said Parr.
In other business, commissioners Parr, Doug Inman and Jim Zimmerman:
•Acting as the county drainage board, motioned to allow two parcels of land at 596 E. 300 South to combine. The same was done for two parcels at the intersection of Boston and Arch streets. A similar request at N. 375 West, Bryant, was denied because of a parking lot on the property.
•Approved allowing a farmers’ market to operate for the fifth year at the courthouse.
•Heard from Jay County Sheriff Dwane Ford, who expressed interest in hiring a part-time maintenance worker at Jay County Jail.
•Heard from Craig Frazee of Dynamic Business Solutions, who is constructing the county’s new website. The commissioners want Frazee to display county primary election results on the new website, which is slated to launch Friday.
•Discussed implementing a charge per cubic foot of concrete used in building construction, which would be included in building permits for the county. The commissioners explored the option for generating funds to repair roads damaged by the heavy construction equipment, such as concrete trucks.
•Heard from Jay County emergency management director Ralph Frazee, who told commissioners a grain rescue tube was now available for use by emergency personnel in the county. The device can be used to remove trapped individuals from grain bins. During the meeting, the group also reviewed options for the use of a $20,000 homeland security grant. Frazee said the funds could be used to make first aid kits available to police officers and in each area classroom.